The Green-cheeked Parakeet, or Green-cheeked Conure (Pyrrhura molinae), is a small parrot of the genus Pyrrhura.They belong to several genera within a long-tailed group of the New World Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in referring to this bird. It is native to forests of South America.

Description

The Green cheeked Conure is typically 26 cm (10 in) long and weighs 60 to 80 g. It is mainly green, with a brown/black/grey crown, white periophthalmic rings, green cheeks, blue primary wing feathers, a grey beak, and its long pointed tail is mostly maroon. It has short transverse striations on its breast and a red abdominal area. Males and females have an identical external appearance.^[2]

Taxonomy

The Green-cheeked Conure has six subspecies:^[2][3]

• Pyrrhura molinae, (Massena & Souance 1854)
  • P. m. australis, Todd 1915
  • P. m. flavoptera, Maijer, Herzog, Kessler, Friggens & Fjeldsa 1998
  • P. m. sordida,^[2]
  • P. m. molinae, (Massena & Souance 1854)
  • P. m. phoenicura, (Schlegel 1864)
  • P. m. restricta, Todd 1947

P. m. sordida naturally occurs as a green morph or as a yellow morph,^[2] The yellow morph is also called the Yellow-sided Conure,^[4] and was once erroneously considered to be a separate species, P. hypoxantha.^[5]

The Green-cheeked Conure is similar to the Maroon-bellied Conure (P. frontalis),^[4] and formerly there have been speculations that they were conspecific.^[5] It is also similar in appearance to the Blaze-winged Conure and the Black-capped Conure.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The Green-cheeked Conure occurs in west-central and southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, through northern and eastern Bolivia to northwestern Argentina and northern Paraguay. Its habitat is forests and woodland, where it usually forms flocks of 10 to 20 individuals at treetop level, or larger flocks where there is more food. It is also emerging as a popular pet for families and individuals.^[4]

Behaviour

Scratching his neck with a corn cob (an example of tool use).

The Green-cheeked Conure eats various seeds and fruits and probably other kinds of vegetable matter. The average clutch is 4–6 eggs. Average incubation is 24 days, varying from 22 to 25 days. They have a lower noise level in general than many conures and can learn tricks and have a limited vocabulary, with extensive training.^{[citation needed]}.

Aviculture

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A wing-clipped adult Yellow-sided Green-cheeked Conure, yellow morph P. m. sordida. Note the lighter coloration.

Green-cheeked Conure are common in aviculture and are popular companion parrots. They are playful, affectionate and intelligent, known as having a "big personality in a small body". They can learn to talk, albeit with a limited vocabulary and a gravelly voice. They like to be held (although some like it more than others) and can learn tricks such as lying on their backs and "kissing." Green-cheeked Conures are quiet, so even a unit dweller can enjoy their companionship.^[6] They can be prone to biting, particularly when young, but an owner can cure this behavior with patience and time. They love fruits, (especially bananas and raisins), and seeds such as sunflower, safflower and hemp seeds; all things found in their natural environments. Green-cheeked Conure also love table food; they are flock animals and love to eat with their family. They can eat potatoes, carrots, corn, bread, pasta, and plain popcorn. A clipped and/or caged bird can become obese from eating too many fatty seeds such as sunflower seeds and peanuts. A bird-pellet diet with a calcium supplement will give them the proper nutrition, but should not be used exclusively due to the presence of trace chemical additives and bonding agents not found in the Conure's natural habitat.^{[citation needed]} A good rule of thumb is 30% pellet diet, 10% seeds, and the rest being fresh foods- fruits, vegetables, or cooked food. Conures with health problems related to the kidneys should not be fed a diet that is high in protein, as it may lead to gout;^[7] veterinarian prescribed low-protein diets are available for birds with such conditions. Green-cheeked Conures can live to 30 years with proper care, though the average lifespan is typically 10 years due to owner neglect.^[8]

Colour mutations

In addition to the natural color forms, color mutants have been selectively bred in aviculture:

• Cinnamon are lime green and have a lighter, almost pale color to the feathers. The head is tan and the tail feathers are a lighter maroon than in normal Green-cheeked Conure.
• Yellow-Sided have a breast of bright colors.
• Pineapple is Cinnamon and Yellow-sided combination. They have a breast of bright colors, a tan head and lime green feathers on the back like a Cinnamon. The tail feathers are the same as a Yellow-sided showing a halo effect.
• Turquoise have a body with some blue-green and green feathers. The breast feathers are grayish and the tail feathers are gray.

• 

  Cinnamon mutation

• 

  Pineapple mutation (juvenile)

• 

  Turquoise mutation
  (wing-clipped adult)

There is also a green/red/blue apple mutation which is not very common but has been seen.

References

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Cited texts

• Forshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World; an Identification Guide. Illustrated by Frank Knight. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.